[Anchor]

A flash flood has struck the world-famous Grand Canyon in the United States. Triggered by a violent torrent strong enough to reshape the river's geography, the disaster has left one person dead and about 15 others missing.

Correspondent Jeon Byeong-nam reports from Washington.

[Reporter]

A massive wall of muddy water swallows the canyon.

The wreckage of shattered lodging structures floats away helplessly.

[Is that not a lodge? Oh my god.]

On the afternoon of the 29th local time, a flash flood occurred at Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, U.S.

Torrential rain exceeding 25 mm per hour poured down on the Bright Angel Creek area, an arid desert region. The rainwater cascaded down steep rocks for about 1.8 kilometers toward the lower Colorado River, sweeping through Bright Angel Creek and the Phantom Ranch area.

While about 60 hikers at the scene were rescued via helicopters and other means, one man in his 40s died after being swept away by the rapid current, and about 15 people remain missing.

[Jason Pak / Emergency Rescuer (CNN Interview): Unlike Nepal, we can send almost all resources like fire trucks, ambulances, and helicopters. But the problem is that it is inaccessible unless you take mountain trails or helicopters. Finding the proper place to use rescue resources is very difficult.]

In addition, nearly all pedestrian bridges and water pipelines were destroyed, and major tourist facilities have been closed.

The rapid currents washed rocks and metal structures into the Colorado River, and the riverbed widened, reportedly altering the local landscape.

[Usher Freddy / American Red Cross: Rescuers could see the bridge they had crossed just 15 minutes prior being swept away by the flood.]

The U.S. National Park Service stated, "We are working with Arizona authorities on evacuating residents and verifying the status of the missing."

However, with rain continuing to fall, additional floods and landslides are feared, making recovery efforts expected to face significant difficulties.

(Video by Oh Jung-shik | Video Editing by Park Choon-bae | Graphics by Kim Ye-ji)